Polly Orders a Coffee

The rain decided for Polly. It started halfway across the square, and the nearest door was a corner cafe with fogged windows and a striped awning dripping in slow drops. "Hello, good afternoon!" A badger in a bow tie looked up from the coffee machine as if visitors on rainy days were his favorite kind.

"A coffee with milk, please. Not too hot, if possible." The badger nodded like someone taking the request very seriously, then slid a glass case forward without a word. Inside, golden and sugared, waited the famous ones. "Do you have churros? Everyone talks about them." He pretended to be offended that the question was even necessary. "For here, please. I want to sit by the window for a while."

The window seat came with the sound of rain and a view of umbrellas hurrying past. Polly dipped, tasted, and understood the entire neighborhood a little better. "The check, please. How much do I owe you?" The number was small; the discovery was not. "How delicious! I am definitely coming back tomorrow." The badger just polished a cup and smiled, because he had heard that before, and it was always true.